|| I see chocolates..everywhere ||

Noted that the exhibition was a bit of a letdown **maybe that, or the fact that I went in the morning of the first day itself....wasn't as happening as I expected?** ...Ingatkan banyak booth, but as usual ada "terselit" 3-4 booths of banks promoting their credit cards and those salesperson literally holding onto my LV bagstraps, begging me to join or at least "try" to sign up as a sign on support! but no, thanks..I have learnt my lesson and I am now a very happy shopper, shopping using my debit cards..:D

Anyway, I was thinking that it would be something flashy and great lah, to expect the least..but surprising it was a small collection of chocolateurs and some other are players in the chocolate bussiness -selling chocolate molds ** ni tempat bentuk coklat okay, bukan mold-kulat**, chocolate printers **yes, they print edible images on these chocolates kay**, chocolte boxes & frames...and my all time favourite..SALDOFF chocolate...ALYONKA!

I wasted no time to rush to the stall upon seeing the Mother Russia flag..gosh, something from my past is here and boy, was I estatic!

Ini ALYONKA chocolate was among the cultures I adapted when I was there in Kursk.. **this, as well as the beer, vodca, cheap Russian cigerettes and tea drinking culture which is a norm "hence the word culture" back there** anyway, they had my favourites ...the dark chocolate,which is slightly bitter upon first bite then gradually sweeten in your mouth..** isnt't that just heavenly, guys?** anyway, the owner there was kinda lookinga t me one kind and approached me, asking me if I want to buy anything? I casually asked "Why is this RM12 here whereas I remembered buying it only for about Rb20- Rb 30 back in Kursk?" . He was surprised to learn that I was studying in his country , while he on the other hand had attended IIUM Gombak in mine...

and from there, we started talking and started comparing notes about the weather and how he missed Malaysia whenever he's back in his homeland and how I, on other hand is missing Kursk to bits!

He exclaimed to the rest of his entourage that I was an ex-KSMU student and started to converse with me in Russian..ha ha ha, thank God for my basic Russian..although the conversations with them were not as fluently as how I would have hoped for, but them it wasa reminder that I was once there and I understand and speak that language!

ALYONKA chocolate is the one on the left, I have always been fascinated with the girl's big blue eyes..:D

The boy's version is ALYONKI - still with the blue eyed concept but with wispy blonde curls..These are products under the KRASNII OKTIABER or Reb October company, a famous chocolate manufacturer back in Moscow and still going strong since 1918..

KRASNII OKTIABER's official logo

Other products from Saldoff's..they have a branch in KL..so most probably we'll get to see more Russian chocolates in the market soon **yeay!**

among the printed chocolates available..they use 98% cocoa and by not using vegetable oils, the chocolate can last in room temperature without melting..

this stall was flocked as it was selling novelty and beautiful handcrafter chocolates ** but a bit pricey for my taste**

one of the established chocolateur participating in the ehibition

** not that it wasn't a hit, hence the picture sans people but my timing was pefect as I wanne take a picture of the stall not the people at the stall **

this co sells locally made choclate molds, costing about RM60-75 cmpared to the ones brought in from Germany **RM160-RM 300**

anyway, I bought some chocolates **surprsingly, I bought the chocolates ONLY from that booth and not the others!** and headed home feeling dandy and nice..I could say that the higlight of my visit there was more or less concentrated on ALYONKA, but to me that is sufficient!


Kursk..I miss you! **have u been missing me too?**

:: saturday - walking down memory lane ::

the weekend came and gone..

nothing much happened..

but of course, I was happy to get to see some familiar faces at my uncle's wedding..This family is from the Md Som's side of the family ( my lated grandmama's side)..I am embarassed to state that I don't really know much about that side of the family..why, you ask?mostly it's because my late grandmama passed away when I was still young..I was 8 or 9 the most at that time..It's not an excuse, but I guessed it played a part somehow rather..nevertheless, I am blessed to known those who are dear to my heart,especially the groom's family whose house is a "wajib" house to go to during the festive season..

the uncle who got married is the last son of the family and I guess, his wedding was a reunion of some sort, especially for those who stayed out of radar and those who are residing out of Johor..

I was estatic to see my cousins **Ayu, Abg Man and his fiance**, my family **sans Kakak, she's flooded with her work, as usual**, my Auntie **Auntie Ned** and lotsa other relatives whom I only know by salutations **my Dad's cousins /uncles/aunties etc**...

and you know what, I saw someone that I haven't seen in almost 25 years..
who is he?
jeng jeng jeng....
he used to assist my Dad in Kem Lok Kawi by sending me to and from school **some sort of an unofficial driver :P**..and no, as we only had one available car at that period of time,he didn't sent me using a car but I had the priviledge of riding his Vespa on a daily basis...:D
**kewl huh?**

the only bad point about seeing him is that, I realized how he had stayed the same over the years, while I had mushroomed into one helluva big sponge cake..:P

anyway, the trip back to Pontian was bittersweet..
I used to hated it there..
I had fun when we were staying somewhere else and not "trapped" there per se..
You may say that I am those type that had been used to the hustle and ustle of the big city and had my own episode of "culture shock" when Mr Dad & Mrs Mom decided to put me and Kakak in SDPB...not that I had not enjoyed my stay there, but the earlier transition period was tough on me, personally....
Drove pass the old school and I realised how uch it has changed but the sense of belonging and pride of being an alumni to that school is beyond words..

I wished I would live long enough to show my boys the places where I used to go when I was studying there as how Mr Dad & Mrs Mom showed us their "spots" all around the town..It would be nostalgic and I now that it would definitely annoy the hell outta my boys..ha ha ha ha ha.....:D

anyway, never imagined that the trip back and forth Spore-JB-Pontian-JB-Spore wa gonna be so tiring, hence the happiness when I gotta know that Inche S.O. had taken time off from work to look after the boys..
**tq darling**